asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the trend to have long-term psychiatric patients discharged from mental hospital; and if he is satisfied that proper facilities are being provided for these patients on discharge.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Discharge of Mental Hospital Patients.
7.
The trend towards discharging long-term patients from mental hospital is a desirable one provided the patients concerned are suitable for intergration in a community setting and provided the necessary supportive services are available. This approach is now settled policy in the psychiatric services, and in general, I am satisfied from the information available to me that patients requiring community support are discharged only when satisfactory facilities are available.